Bedroom Scene — Ryuichi & Sakurajima Mai
Inside the softly lit bedroom, Ryuichi and Sakurajima Mai were wrapped in each other's warmth, their closeness overflowing with quiet affection.
After a long while, their lips finally parted. They gazed at each other in silence—so still that they could almost hear the rhythm of each other's hearts.
Ryuichi's expression stayed calm and composed, but Mai's cheeks had turned noticeably pink.
Even though she usually carried herself with the confidence of a queen, right now her face betrayed a trace of shy sweetness.
"Consider that a little reward for you," she said with a playful smile, trying to seize the upper hand in their relationship.
Ryuichi smiled softly, his gaze impossibly gentle.
People often say you can't hide it when you truly love someone—his eyes at that moment were overflowing with tenderness.
"If that's all I get, the reward feels a bit too small."
His voice was low, teasing. Mai blinked, caught off-guard as he leaned closer, his hand brushing against hers.
She let out a tiny gasp, her blush deepening.
"H-Hey… I didn't say you could do that…" she stammered, trying to keep her composure.
"True," he murmured, lips brushing against hers once more, "which is why I thought I'd take the initiative."
At that distance, she couldn't hide. The famous actress's face was now flushed scarlet, her eyes shimmering with both embarrassment and allure.
"D-Don't look at me like that… it's embarrassing."
She raised a hand to cover his eyes, but she could still see the faint curve of his smile beneath her palm.
"Mai…"
"Hmm?"
"Will you marry me someday?"
Her heart skipped.
Hidden behind her hand, Ryuichi's voice was quiet but sincere. His arms slipped around her waist, fingers tracing slow, absent-minded circles on her back.
"Wh-Why are you asking that all of a sudden…?"
Her heartbeat raced wildly, her composure crumbling under the weight of his words.
Ryuichi's smile deepened.
He had never imagined himself talking seriously about love with anyone.
All his life, he'd kept people at a distance—pretending to be ordinary, staying in the background, hiding behind polite smiles.
He never thought of himself as lonely; if anything, he disliked the idea of forcing fake warmth into shallow conversations.
But in this world… everything had changed.
Since being reborn as a Devil, he had met Rias, Akeno, and the others—people who had genuinely reached into his heart.
He now had power that defied human rules, the freedom to live as he pleased. Yet, through his contracts and bonds, he had also learned what it meant to connect with others again.
Bit by bit, he'd started showing his real emotions. His smiles were no longer masks—they were genuine, born from the joy of meeting people who truly mattered.
Maybe… this was the world where he was meant to exist.
The world he'd come from had been so empty in comparison.
He exhaled softly and lifted Mai's hand from his face. Looking into her eyes, he said quietly:
"My life used to feel hollow and meaningless… but now, I think I came to this world just to meet all of you."
"Hey, you're supposed to say that just to me right now," Mai muttered, grabbing his cheek with a small pout.
She knew what he was—a Devil bound by contracts, with companions who were all precious to him. But still… when it was just the two of them, she couldn't help but want to keep him to herself.
Ryuichi chuckled as she tugged at his face. Seeing her slip back into her usual queenly attitude made him smile even more.
Mai blinked in surprise at his reaction, then laughed softly herself.
"That's better. Your smile looks a lot more natural now. When I first saw you, I wanted to punch that fake grin right off your face."
With that, she let go of him and nestled into his arms.
"Alright, sleep time. No more wandering hands," she ordered, wrapping her arms around his waist with her usual commanding air.
Ryuichi didn't argue. Devils might indulge their desires freely, but they could also control them perfectly. Right now, he just wanted to savor this peaceful warmth.
Through their bond, he could sense the faint flow of energy gathering between them—born not from lust, but from the quiet, genuine affection they shared.
Love… that must be what it really is, he thought, smiling faintly.
Looking down at the girl in his arms, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
Mai, eyes closed, looked as though she had already fallen asleep. But the small, happy curve of her lips betrayed her awareness of his gentle kiss.
Through their contract, the emotional resonance grew stronger.
Ryuichi couldn't help but chuckle softly. This feels almost like cheating.
Not wanting to waste that surge of warmth, he let his magic flow, syncing it with his Sacred Gear. Still holding Mai close, he quietly began his nightly training—channeling the energy within the calm rhythm of her breathing.
By dawn, Mai was sleeping soundly in his arms when Ryuichi finally opened his eyes.
Golden light flickered across his irises, the deep black turning momentarily into radiant gold.
He hadn't slept at all, yet his body brimmed with power.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed and stretched. A night of quiet training—and emotional connection—had strengthened his magic even further.
"You're up early," Mai's sleepy voice murmured behind him.
He turned, smiling. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
She shook her head with a drowsy grin. "No. I slept plenty."
"Good. I'll go grab us breakfast, then I need to head back."
With a shimmer of magic, his black outfit materialized neatly over him. Mai propped her chin on her hand, watching with an amused smile.
"You really do look cool when you do that."
"Naturally."
He leaned down and stole a quick kiss from her lips.
"I'm heading out. Get up and wash your face, my wife."
Her cheeks instantly flushed.
"H-Hey! I never said I'd marry you yet!" she protested, but her smile gave her away.
Ryuichi just waved with that same easy grin.
"You will. Sooner or later."
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